IAMU was founded by seven universities representing the five continents of the world (Representative Universities) in November, 1999, with a shared recognition of significance of maritime education and training in the rapid globalization of the international shipping arena. Since then, IAMU has significantly expanded its membership, and now boasts 56 universities of the world’s maritime education and training universities/faculties, and The Nippon Foundation as its members, totaling 57 altogether (read more).